The onset of the New Year on the night of December 31 to January 1 was introduced by the Russian Emperor Peter I in 1699. Before that, according to historical chronicles, there was complete discord with the date of the celebration of the main winter holiday. The ancient Slavic farmers began work in the fields after the winter on March 1. And this day was considered the beginning of the new year. According to other sources, it was celebrated on March 22 - the day of the spring equinox. For many pagan ancestors who considered the evil frosty grandfather Treskun (Karachun) as their deity, the New Year began in December at the “winter solstice” - the shortest day of the year and one of the coldest days of winter.
By the way, on New Year's Eve, Russia celebrated Vasily's Day. In the 4th century, Archbishop Basil of Caesarea was revered as a great theologian. And in Russia they began to call him Vasily the pigsty, without having anything bad under it. On New Year's Eve, it was customary to cook many dishes from pork. It was believed that thanks to this, Vasily, the patron saint of pigs, would certainly improve the number of these important animals in the economy. So they regaled the guests who went from house to house with pork pies, boiled pork legs ... And in order to get a good harvest, they performed the rite of "sowing" - they scattered spring wheat around the house, read a special prayer, and then the hostess collected the grains and stored them until spring - time sowing.
In 988, after the introduction of Christianity by Prince Vladimir Svyatoslavich, the Byzantine calendar came to Russia, the celebration of the New Year was postponed to September 1. The time when the crop is harvested, the work is completed, you can start a new life cycle. And for quite a long time there were two holidays in parallel: in the old way - in the spring and in the new way - in the fall. Disagreements continued until the 15th century, when by decree of Tsar Ivan III, the official date for celebrating the New Year in Russia became September 1 for both the church and worldly people.
And so it was until December 20, 1700, when Peter I signed his decree, according to which the celebration of the New Year was postponed to January 1. The young tsar introduced European customs, so that on January 1, 1700, at his behest, the houses were decorated with pine, spruce and juniper branches according to the samples exhibited in the Gostiny Dvor - just as they had done in Holland since ancient times. The tsar considered 1700 the beginning of a new century.
Historical documents record that on the night of December 31, 1699 to January 1, 1700, a grandiose fireworks display, cannon and rifle salutes were arranged on Red Square, Muscovites were ordered to fire muskets and launch rockets near their homes. The boyars and servicemen were dressed in Hungarian caftans, and the women in elegant foreign dresses.
We celebrated a new holiday, as they say, to the fullest. The celebrations continued until January 6 and ended with a procession to the Jordan. Contrary to the old custom, Peter I did not follow the clergy in rich attire, but stood on the banks of the Moscow River in uniform, surrounded by the Preobrazhensky and Semenovsky regiments, dressed in green caftans and camisoles with gold buttons and braid.
Since then, the celebration of the New Year has been held constantly, from Germany the custom came to decorate the Christmas trees with toys in the houses. And by the 20th century, the New Year's wizard Santa Claus appeared in Russia, the prototype of which is considered to be several characters at once: the pagan sorcerer Karachun (Treskun), St. Nicholas the Wonderworker, the German wizard "old Ruprecht" and the fabulous Russian character Morozko.
At the beginning of the 20th century, Russia was going through very difficult times. In 1914, during the First World War, the authorities banned New Year's celebrations so as not to repeat the holiday traditions adopted from the Germans fighting on the other side. After 1917, the New Year was either returned or banned, in 1929 January 1 was made a working day. However, in the 1930s, the main winter holiday was nevertheless rehabilitated in the USSR.
But the Old New Year in Russia was first celebrated on January 14, 1919. In 1918, by decision of the Council of People's Commissars, the "Decree on the introduction of the Western European calendar in the Russian Republic" was approved. This was due to the fact that European countries have long lived according to the Gregorian calendar, named after Pope Gregory XIII, and Russia - according to the Julian (on behalf of Julius Caesar). Since then, the Russian people have established a custom to celebrate the Old New Year on the night of January 13-14, and thus celebrate their favorite winter holiday again.
The Nativity of Christ originates from the very Baptism of Russia by Prince Vladimir in 988. From time immemorial, Christmas has been considered a holiday of mercy and kindness, calling for taking care of the weak and needy. On holidays that began on January 7 according to the Gregorian calendar, charity auctions and balls were organized in Russian cities, festive tables were organized with “sovereign” pies, pretzels and decanters with “bitter” for the poor, gifts were given to the sick and orphans. And on frosty winter days from Christmas to Epiphany (January 19), called Christmas time, a festive meal alternated with wild fun. They arranged sleigh and ice-boat rides from the mountains, snowball fights, fistfights, carols. The name of this ancient Russian fun comes from the name of the pagan god of feasts and the world of Kolyada.
In ancient Russia, both young people and old people loved to carol. In the evenings, dressed in animal skins or funny outfits, the crowd went home for food and money. The most stingy hosts tried to get rid of obsessive visitors with a couple of bagels or sweets, for which they received unkind wishes from sharp-tongued merry fellows - in the new year to get "devils in the yard, and worms in the garden" or harvest wheat "completely with empty spikelets." And in order for the guests to take away the terrible words, they had to be generously presented.
On Christmas days, on the streets of cities, one could also see trained bears that walked on their hind legs, played the harp and danced, and after the performance went around the audience with a hat and stood for a long time near those who were stingy for a well-deserved reward.
A special place these days was occupied by Christmas divination. As now, the girls dreamed of getting an enviable groom. “I want a betrothed - a handsome hand-written and dandy, long curls, high morocco boots, a red shirt, a golden sash,” they said an old conspiracy.
On the days of Christmas time, young girls often guessed “for the betrothed”, spreading wheat grains on the floor near the stove. A black rooster was brought into the house. It was believed that if the cockerel pecked all the grains, then the groom would probably appear soon. And if the “prophetic” bird refuses to treat, then it’s not worth waiting for the betrothed in the New Year. Fortune-telling with wax was also very popular. Melted wax was poured into a basin of water, and then the resulting figures were examined. If a heart was seen, then this was considered a sign of the upcoming "amorous affairs." A pitchfork meant a quarrel, a medallion meant wealth, and a bagel meant lack of money.
The main dishes on the Christmas table in Russia were pork delicacies: roasted pig, stuffed pig's head, fried meat in pieces, jelly, aspic. In addition to pork dishes, other dishes from poultry, game, lamb and fish were also served on the festive table. Finely chopped meat was boiled in pots along with traditional semi-liquid porridge. Also traditional treats were cheesecakes, kalachi, pies, koloboks, kulebyaks, kurniki, pies, etc. The choice of desserts was more modest: the Christmas table was usually decorated with fruits, marshmallows, gingerbread, brushwood, cookies and honey.
The persecution of the New Year at the beginning of the 20th century also affected Christmas. First, Christmas trees were banned, and then Santa Claus. In the late 1920s, a decree was issued stating: "On the day of the new year and the days of all religious holidays (former special days of rest), work is carried out on a general basis." Then January 1, 1929 became an ordinary working day, and the celebration of Christmas became outlawed.
Only six years later, in 1935, the course of domestic policy towards holidays was changed, the New Year was recognized as a secular holiday, and Christmas was left to the church, separated from the state. Christmas received the status of a day off only in 1991, after the collapse of the USSR.
The countdown date of the new year in Russia was postponed twice. Until the 15th century, it was celebrated in March, then in September, and in 1699 Peter I "appointed" the celebration on January 1. Russian New Year is a holiday that has absorbed the customs of paganism, Christianity and European enlightenment. On December 20, 1699, the decree of Emperor Peter I “On the celebration of the New Year” was issued, overnight throwing the whole country three months ahead - the Russians, accustomed to the September meeting of the new year, should have met the year 1700 on January 1.
Until the end of the 15th century, spring was considered the end of the annual cycle in Russia (the same ideas still exist in some countries of Central Asia). Before the adoption of Orthodoxy, this holiday was associated exclusively with pagan beliefs. Slavic paganism, as you know, was closely intertwined with the cult of fertility, so the new year was celebrated when the earth awakens from its winter sleep - in March, with the first spring equinox.
During the winter solstice, it was preceded by 12-day "Kolyadas", from which the tradition of "mummers" to go from house to house and sing songs, scattering grain at the threshold, has survived to this day. And today, in many remote corners of Russia and the CIS, it is customary to give pancakes and kutya to “mummers”, and in ancient times these dishes were put on the windows to appease the spirits.
With the adoption of Orthodoxy, the ritual side of the meeting of the new year, of course, has changed. The Orthodox Church did not attach much importance to it for a long time, but in 1495 it got to this holiday - it was officially appointed on September 1. On this day, the Kremlin held the ceremonies "On the Beginning of a New Summer", "For the Summer" or "The Action of Long-term Health".
The celebration was opened by the patriarch and the tsar on the cathedral square of the Moscow Kremlin, their procession was accompanied by the ringing of bells. From the end of the 17th century, the tsar and his retinue went out to the people in the most elegant clothes, and the boyars were ordered to do the same. The choice fell on September, because it was believed that it was in September that God created the world. With the exception of a solemn church service, the New Year was celebrated like any other holiday - with guests, songs, dances and refreshments. It was then called differently - "The first day of the year."
The tradition was preserved for almost 200 years, after which a whirlwind of changes by the name of Pyotr Alekseevich Romanov burst into the life of the Russian people. As you know, the young emperor, almost immediately after ascending the throne, began tough reforms aimed at eradicating old traditions. Having traveled around Europe, he was inspired by the Dutch way of celebrating the New Year. In addition, he did not want to pace in a gold-embroidered vestment along the cathedral square - he wanted the fun that he had seen abroad.
On December 20, 1699 (according to the old reckoning, it was 7208), on the threshold of a new century, the emperor issued a decree that read: our Orthodox faith is accepted, all those peoples, according to their years, count from the Nativity of Christ on the eighth day later, that is, from January 1, and not from the creation of the world, for many strife and counting in those years, and now 1699 comes from the Nativity of Christ year, and on the 1st of the next January, a new year 1700 begins, along with a new centennial century; and for that good and useful deed, he indicated that henceforth the years should be counted in orders, and in all deeds and fortresses to write from this January, from the 1st day of the Nativity of Christ, 1700.
The decree was long and very detailed. It stipulated that everyone should decorate their houses with spruce, pine and juniper branches these days and not remove decorations until January 7th. Noble and simply wealthy citizens were ordered to fire cannons in the yards at midnight, shoot into the air with rifles and muskets, and a grandiose fireworks display was arranged on Red Square.
On the streets, the emperor ordered to burn firewood, brushwood and resin fires and keep the fire going throughout the festive week. By 1700, almost all European countries had already switched to the Gregorian calendar, so Russia began to celebrate the New Year 11 days later than Europe.
September 1 remained a church holiday, but after the Peter the Great reform it somehow faded into the background. The last time the rite of summer conduct was performed on September 1, 1699, in the presence of Peter, who sat on the throne in the Kremlin Cathedral Square in royal clothes, received a blessing from the patriarch and congratulated the people on the New Year, as his grandfather did. After that, the magnificent autumn celebration was over - by the will of Peter, the traditions of enlightened Europe merged with pagan nature, from which the rites of wild fun remained.
On January 6, the first "pro-Western" celebrations in Russian history ended in Moscow with a procession to the Jordan. Contrary to the old custom, the tsar did not follow the clergy in rich attire, but stood on the banks of the Moscow River in uniform, surrounded by the Preobrazhensky and Semenovsky regiments, dressed in green caftans and camisoles with gold buttons and braid.
The boyars and servants also did not escape the imperial attention - they were obliged to dress in Hungarian caftans and dress their wives in foreign dresses. For everyone, it was a real torment - the established way of life was collapsing for centuries, and the new rules looked uncomfortable and intimidating. This way of celebrating the New Year was repeated every winter, and gradually New Year trees, midnight cannon volleys, and masquerades took root.
On the eve of the old New Year, the Slavs celebrate a national holiday - Generous Evening. In Russia, the evening before the old New Year is called Vasiliev, since on this day the church celebrates the memory of Basil the Great. Another name is a rich holy evening. On the evening of January 13, all housewives prepare a second or generous kutya, which, unlike lean kutya, is seasoned with meat and lard. By tradition, a bowl with kutya is placed in the corner where the icons stand.
For a generous evening, the hostesses prepared the best and most delicious dishes for the table. The main dish on the festive table was considered a roasted pig - a symbol of the fertility of livestock and the fertility of the earth. In the people, this time is considered the time of rampant evil spirits. On this evening, after sunset and until midnight, teenage girls walk around and are generous, driving away all evil spirits with their songs and wishing the owners happiness, health and good luck in the new year.
At dawn on January 14, young guys went to sow grain to their godparents, close relatives, and acquaintances. According to popular beliefs, on the old New Year, a man was supposed to enter the house first - it was believed that this would bring happiness to the house for the whole next year. Sowers congratulated everyone on the New Year and wished wealth and abundance with special sayings. In response, the owners gave them pies, sweets and other sweets. It was believed that it was impossible to give money to sowers - with them you can give away well-being in the house.
In some villages, such a ritual is still preserved: on the night of the old New Year, they burn their old clothes and immediately put on new ones. This symbolizes the beginning of a new, better life. In order to protect your house from all troubles in the new year, on January 14 you need to go around all the rooms clockwise with three lit candles and at the same time be baptized. Also on the morning of January 14, you need to take an ax and lightly knock it on the threshold, saying "life, health, bread."
In folk beliefs, many signs are associated with the holiday of the old New Year.
. You should not pronounce the word “thirteen” on this day.
. January 14 cannot be considered a trifle, otherwise you will shed tears all year long.
. On the old New Year and on Vasiliev evening, you can’t lend anything, otherwise you will spend the whole year in debt.
. Also, signs say that if you take out the garbage on January 14, then you will take happiness out of the house.
. If the night of the Old New Year is quiet and clear, the year will be happy and successful.
. If the bright sun rises on January 14, the year will be rich and fruitful.
. If frost covers all the trees, there will be a good grain harvest.
. From which side the sky is covered with clouds on the Old New Year, happiness will come from there.
. If snow falls on the Old New Year, then next year will be happy.
Christmas is a bright and kind family holiday, which gathers the closest people. They celebrate Christmas at the festive table noisily and cheerfully. On this holiday, everyone gives each other gifts and believes in magic. However, not all of the Christmas customs laid down in the old days have survived to this day. On the eve of Christmas on Christmas Eve it was supposed to fast, on Christmas to arrange a rich feast, and the next day after Christmas to meet Christmas time with songs, round dances, games. During the Christmas festivities, they had fun from the bottom of their hearts, rode down the hills, dressed up with various evil spirits, frightened children and girls ...
The religious meaning of the holiday has become important for today's Russians. On Christmas holidays, Orthodox people visit the church, where Christmas services are held.
Since 1991, the day of the Nativity of Christ has been declared a holiday. On the night of Christmas, the federal channels of Russian television broadcast a solemn service from the Cathedral of Christ the Savior.
Once upon a time, Christmas in Russia was celebrated on December 25, just like Christmas is celebrated before the New Year in today's Europe. They looked forward to the holiday and prepared for it in advance: they put things in order in houses, decorated Christmas trees, and prepared various holiday treats. At the beginning of the 19th century, Christmas tree markets opened in the cities and villages of Russia, where you could choose a green beauty, buy Christmas tree decorations and Christmas gifts. The Christmas tree was decorated with children's toys, candles and sweets, which were then distributed to the children. These features of the celebration have become part of Russian traditions.
The change in the timing of the celebration of Christmas was due to the fact that at the beginning of the 20th century our church refused to switch to the Gregorian calendar, resulting in a temporary discrepancy between the celebration of Christmas between Christians and Catholics (Christians celebrate Christmas 13 days later than Catholics). Orthodox churches (Russian, Georgian, Serbian, Bulgarian…) use the Julian calendar, where December 25th corresponds to January 7th of the Gregorian calendar.
The exact date of the appearance of the first Christmas tree in Russia is not known. Literary sources say that the custom of putting up a Christmas tree was brought to Russia by the future wife of Nicholas I (1796 - 1855), the Prussian princess Charlotte. There is an assumption that the first Christmas tree was put up for Christmas by the Germans living in St. Petersburg in the 40s of the 19th century. Therefore, the first tree was a Christmas attribute.
According to the third version, the tradition of decorating the New Year tree came to Russia from the Petrine era.
By the end of the 19th century, the Christmas tree became the main decoration of the winter holidays.
There was also a time when Christmas tree decorations were banned in Russia. Because of the war with Germany in 1916, the Christmas tree was banned by the Holy Synod. The Bolsheviks who came to power also showed disdain for the Christmas tree as an alien undertaking. During the years of Soviet power, many traditions of celebrating Orthodox Christmas were lost.
The tradition of decorating the Christmas tree returned to Russia in 1935. The Christmas tree has gone from a Christmas tree to a New Year's tree. People began to decorate the Christmas tree in the Soviet style with a five-pointed star at the top.
The tradition of decorating the Christmas tree with a seven-pointed star, symbolizing, according to the Gospel, the star that led the Magi to the newly born baby Christ, is a thing of the past.
With the change of eras, the attitude towards Christmas traditions has changed. With the advent of Soviet power, the New Year holiday became significant, the tradition of celebrating Christmas was forgotten.
After the collapse of the Soviet Union, New Year remained a traditional family holiday.
Christmas was celebrated only by Orthodox believers.
Today, Christmas is one of the main Christian holidays (the second most important holiday after). It is celebrated according to the old Julian calendar on January 7th.
Christmas was preceded by a forty-day strict fast (from November 28 to January 6), during which they abstained from almost all food. Meat, eggs, lard and dairy products were excluded from the diet. Fans of food sometimes violated the main fast, saying “fasting is not a bridge, you can go around”, but on the eve of Christmas, as a rule, they observed moderation in food.
The strictest day of the Advent Lent fell on January 6th. They got by with "sochi" (hungry kutya) boiled wheat (barley, rice steamed on water) with honey. Hence the name "Christmas Eve". Before the first star (the symbol of the Star of Bethlehem), no other food was served on the table.
Fasting required not only abstinence from food, but also the observance of rules of conduct. According to John Chrysostom, "true fasting is the removal from evil, the curbing of the tongue, the laying off of anger, the taming of lusts, the cessation of slander, lies and perjury."
On Christmas Eve, according to custom, they completed all the work by lunchtime and went to the bath before dark. After dinner, we went to the all-night service in the church. Celebrated Christmas in new clothes.
Special significance was attached to the Christmas table. A new tablecloth was laid on the table, under which a bundle of hay or straw was placed (a symbol of the manger where Jesus Christ was born). According to Russian traditions, treats consisted of 12 dishes: kutya, jelly, jellied fish, pancakes, boiled pork, lamb side with porridge, roast pig, goose with Antonov apples, duck with cabbage, pies, pickles.
The number 12 was considered sacred, as it corresponded to the number of faithful apostles of Christ and the number of holy days. Each dish was meant to be tasted. An even number of people attended the festive meal. In the case of an odd number, an extra device was placed.
Kutya was supposed to be washed down with a “broth” (thick compote or dried fruit jelly).
All the guests who entered the house were invited to the Christmas table.
We were especially glad to welcome a beggar. They believed that Christ could enter in his image.
In Russia, there was a custom - dressed in fur coats inside out, knock on houses, sing carols with good wishes to the owners, glorify the Lord. It was believed that the year would be successful if on Christmas Eve the guys came with carols, scattering cereals at the gates or doors of the house. Groats symbolized wealth.
For their work, carolers received various treats.
On the night before Christmas, the girls were guessing. Their fortune-telling was connected with the search for a betrothed. The most common fortune-telling is throwing a felt boot over a fence. The toe of the felt boot should indicate the side where the betrothed lives.
The girls were interested in many things: whether they will be poor or rich in marriage, whether their husbands will be greedy or kind, whether they will get married or remain “in girls”.
Why do people believe in Christmas divination, and what time of the year is the most magical? The ancient history of the Slavs explains a lot.
The change of the Julian calendar to the Gregorian led to a discrepancy between the old holidays and the current ones, although the meaning of the holidays has not changed.
According to pagan legends, the day of the winter solstice corresponded to its own deity - Karachun (the god of death). Karachun sent pestilence on livestock, causing serious illnesses.
The arrival of the deity of peace and holiday - Kolyada (December 25) means the triumph of life over death. Kolyada defeats the evil of Karachun, restoring peace and tranquility on earth.
From time immemorial, wives and mothers have turned to Kolyada for help, wishing to protect their sons and husbands from the raids of hostile tribes, unmarried girls, peasants asking for next year's harvest ...
It is believed that the New Year is the beginning of peace and prosperity.
Christmas time was considered a period of activity of deceased ancestors. The tradition of Christmas divination is connected with the fact that the souls of ancestors these days show responsiveness to the requests of their descendants. People believe that the souls of their ancestors will tell them the right path, help them make the right choice.
Divination is a fun pastime, and you should not believe in them.
On Christmas Eve, several bulbs are put into the water. Men's names are attached to the bulbs. They say that the bulb that shoots the arrows first will indicate the name of the betrothed.
Before going to bed, the girl eats something salty, making a wish: “Betrothed, mummers, come to me and give me a drink!” A young man who gives water in a dream will become her betrothed.
A newspaper or a sheet of paper should be crushed, without looking to a shapeless mass, put on a flat plate and set on fire.
Carefully bring the burnt newspaper to the wall to see the shadow from the remaining ashes. It is believed that the outlines of the shadow predict the future.
On Christmas night, a girl can see her betrothed. She needs to stay alone in the room, light a candle between two mirrors and look into the "corridor of reflections" from where the groom should appear.
Christmas, which coincided with Sunday, foreshadowed a fruitful summer, a good honey harvest, Christmas, which coincided with Monday, a snowy winter and a rainy spring.
On Christmas it was forbidden to sew and knit. Blindness threatened those who dared to break the ban.
It was forbidden to work: wash, wash, spin ...
It was supposed to celebrate Christmas in a new shirt (an old but clean shirt promised crop failure)
Hunting for animals and birds from Christmas to Epiphany was banned, as it could bring misfortune to the house.
Christmas time begins with Christmas, which lasts until the very Epiphany. According to Christmastide traditions that have pre-Christian roots, our ancestors glorified the Sun on Christmastide. Today, Christians praise Christ with solemn songs.
On Christmas holidays, the owners invited guests to their place, arranged various street festivities.
Many traditions associated with the celebration of Christmas have been forgotten. Not all housewives adhere to culinary traditions. Nowadays, it is not customary to fast, dress up, walk around the yards with carols, invite many guests for Christmas.
The main Christmas tradition is alive today - forgiveness, a manifestation of mercy and kindness. We gather in the family circle or in the circle of close people, show hospitality and generosity, forgive old grievances, enjoy life and wish each other happiness and kindness.
I hope that my article will be useful for those who are concerned about the preservation of traditions. After all, age-old traditions and customs should become our lifestyle, our way of thinking, the main connecting bridge between generations.
For Christians, one of the most important holidays is Christmas - the celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ, the son of God and the Savior of mankind. The celebration of the Nativity of Christ in Russia has undergone many changes, especially during the revolution, but today the traditions of old Russia are being revived again, young people still go home with carols, Christians observe the Christmas fast, and on Christmas Eve they put kutya on the table. Most of us know and love these traditions, but where did they come from, and are they very different from the original ones?
- The difference between Catholic and Orthodox Christmas
- Orthodox Christmas traditions
- Christmas post
- Christmas Eve
- Christmas
- Christmas time
- Traditions of the Catholic Christmas
- How is the Christmas tree related to Christmas?
- History of Christmas in Russia
The difference between Catholic and Orthodox Christmas
Strictly speaking, no one knows the exact date when Jesus Christ was born. The first Christians did not celebrate Christmas separately at all, but combined it together with Epiphany into a single feast of the Epiphany, which was celebrated on January 6th. Perhaps they thought that the Messiah, who came to earth to atone for human sins, should have been born on the same day when Adam, the first man and the first sinner, appeared no less miraculously. This date lasted until the 4th century, until Emperor Constantine I ordered to separate the holidays and celebrate Christmas on December 25th. By this, he tried to indirectly confirm that the Immaculate Conception occurred on the day of the Jewish Passover, that is, March 25th. But it was even more important to overshadow the day of veneration of the Sun, which was very respected by the pagan population, with a new holiday. It was necessary to make people forget the old gods so that they would turn to the new.
For many centuries, then Catholic and Orthodox Christmas was celebrated on the same day - December 25, until at the end of the 16th century, Pope Gregory introduced a new calendar instead of the old Julian, named after him. It was then that disagreements arose between Catholics and Orthodox.
A number of Eastern Catholic and Orthodox churches refused to switch to the Gregorian calendar and continued to celebrate Christmas on December 25 according to the Julian calendar, but since the countries in which they operated switched to the Gregorian calendar, it turned out that this day already fell on January 7 according to the new style.
For most Catholics, Protestants and a number of Orthodox denominations, these dates simply coincided, which is why they celebrate Christmas there on December 25th. This is the main difference between Catholic and Orthodox Christmas.
Since there is a difference between the Julian and Gregorian calendars, the gap between the dates is slowly but steadily growing, and in the next century there will be another day of difference in the time of celebrating Christmas according to the old and new styles.
Orthodox Christmas traditions
Christmas post
Of course, we are more interested in how Christmas is celebrated in Russia. The nature of this holiday in our country is the same as in any other Christian country - it is a purely family celebration. In our story, we will rely on those traditions that were instilled by our ancestors back in Russia, more than half of them have survived to this day, but few people know their original meaning.
The traditions of celebrating Christmas in Russia are invariably associated with the Christmas or Filippov fast, which begins 40 days before the holiday itself (for the Orthodox - on November 28). The name "Philippovsky" is due to the fact that "zagovenie" (the eve of fasting) falls on the day of memory of the Apostle Philip. On this day, all stocks of meat and dairy products are eaten up, so that later they would not be tempting. The Advent fast is not as severe as the great one. It is needed to purify the soul with repentance and prayer, and the body with moderation in food. But closer to Christmas, the fast becomes stricter.
Christmas Eve
The meeting of the celebration of Christmas is preceded by Christmas Eve - the last day before the twelfth holiday. Those who fast on this day were supposed to eat sochivo- barley or wheat grains cooked with the addition of honey. From the morning of Christmas Eve, believers began to prepare for the holiday: they washed the floors, cleaned the house, after which they themselves went to the bathhouse. With the onset of the evening meal, the strict Philippine fast also ended.
All the relatives gathered at the table were waiting for the first star to appear in the sky - this tradition was inspired by the story of Christmas with the Star of Bethlehem, which announced the birth of the Messiah to the world.
It is very interesting how Christmas was celebrated in the old days. On Christmas Eve, the housewives began to prepare ritual dishes, of which there should be exactly 12 on the table - so that all the apostles would have enough. Prepared to commemorate the dead kutia- Wheat porridge seasoned with linseed oil and honey. A plate with kutya was placed under the icons, putting it under the first hay - this was supposed to resemble the first cradle of Jesus. They also made a vzvar (uzvar) - a compote of dried fruits and berries, which was dedicated to the birth of a baby. The Christmas table should be varied and hearty, so they certainly baked pies, pancakes and pies. With the end of a long fast, meat dishes returned to the table: sausages, hams, ham. Roasted pig or goose was welcome.
Straw was laid under the tablecloth on the table. At first, a candle and a plate with kutya were placed on it, then a straw was pulled out from under the tablecloth, on which they were guessing - if you get a long one, then the bread harvest will be good, but otherwise, wait for a crop failure. Already on Christmas Eve it was impossible to work (except for household cleaning).
Describing how Christmas was celebrated in Russia, one cannot fail to mention one of the brightest and most interesting traditions - caroling. Initially, this tradition was pagan, one of the types of sun worship. But over the following centuries, Christianity erased almost all pagan traditions from the people's memory or built them into the system of its own rituals. In the villages, dressed in sheepskin coats turned inside out and with painted faces, the youth began to go from house to house, near which they joyfully proclaimed that the Savior was born, played simple performances, sang Christmas songs, wished the owners well-being and health, and after that the owners gave the carolers some sweets , sausage, loaf or even money. It was believed that after sunset in the Christmas week, evil spirits crawl out into the light of day and begin to do all sorts of dirty tricks to people. And the mummers wandering between the houses were supposed to show this evil spirits that the path here was ordered.
On the eve of Christmas, the godchildren wore kutya to their godparents, sang Christmas songs to them, for which they were also awarded gifts. This was common, as they celebrated Christmas in the north of Russia, as well as in Belarus and Little Russia.
Christmas
The celebration of Christmas in Russia has acquired such an interesting tradition. Even before dawn on Christmas Day, a ceremony was held in the village sowing huts. A person during the Christmas fast was freed from all the bad accumulated over the previous year. Now it was necessary to "sow" his soul with seeds of good luck and prosperity - this was the sacred meaning of sowing. The first to enter the hut was a man (most often a shepherd), holding a bag of oats. He had to start scattering grain from the threshold, at the same time wishing the owners well-being.
With the advent of Christmas, fasting also ends, so the long-awaited fast foods, that is, containing animal products, as well as alcoholic beverages, were finally added to the lean dishes on the table. At the same time, uzvar, jelly, juicy and fish do not disappear from the table, but sausages, aspic, goose, roast, chicken, gingerbread and pancakes, carols, other pastries are added to them - everything that the hostess can cook for the great holiday. The generosity of the treat was justified not only by hungry stomachs after fasting, but also by the fact that good spirits rushed to such a table, fighting all night with evil spirits. They also needed to immediately refresh themselves in order to continue to protect the owners from adversity.
Christmas time
Speaking about how Russians, Ukrainians and Belarusians celebrate Christmas, it is important to understand that it absorbed many pre-Christian, pagan rites that corresponded to the ancient beliefs of the Slavic peoples. So, folk festivals, called Christmas time, can serve as the best illustration of this. When, back in the first centuries of the arrival of Christianity on Russian soil, Christmas coincided with the ancient pagan rite of Christmas, they were not supplanted by Christianity, but absorbed by it, turning into Christmas Christmas.
They began on the first day after Christmas and continued until January 19, that is, until the date of Epiphany. On holy days, it was customary for girls to tell fortunes about their "betrothed", and the methods of fortune-telling were very diverse and differed in different areas.
Video about the traditions of celebrating the Nativity of Christ:
Traditions of the Catholic Christmas
Catholics have very many principles for celebrating Christmas that practically do not differ from ours. On Christmas night, festive liturgies are held in all churches. All believers must be present at the solemn service, even those who hardly appear in church at other times.
On Christmas Eve in Europe, it is customary to decorate a Christmas tree, on top of which a 6-pointed "Star of Bethlehem" is installed. The glowing garlands on the tree are reminiscent of the light emanating from the cave, which the shepherds saw and went there to bow to the Messiah.
Also in the temples are arranged " nativity scenes” made of various materials (spruce branches, cardboard), which is an installation of the cave where Jesus appeared, and its characters: Joseph, Mary, lambs, a donkey, angels and wise men. Believers on this day give each other candles, small icons and other gifts that do not have to be expensive, but given sincerely. They also give sweets that are loved not only by children. Read more about the traditions of celebrating the Nativity of Christ in different countries of Europe and around the world in another article on our website.
On Christmas Eve, fasting continues until late in the evening, so only juicy is eaten at the table. Fish, lenten dishes, duck or goose are prepared for the holiday, but they can be eaten only after Christmas, that is, midnight. Before the start of the festive meal, everyone sitting at the table prays, after which they break the host (a piece of unleavened bread). There should be one empty place at the table, intended for any person who can enter this house and join the meal.
How is the Christmas tree related to Christmas?
If we remember which traditions of celebrating Christmas turned out to be the most persistent and most joyful, then we cannot forget about the Christmas tree, carefully dressed up for the winter holidays.
Historians believe that Christmas trees began to appear for the first time in German homes in the 8th century, when a ban was issued on installing more than one tree in houses. According to this document, it was possible to establish the approximate age of this tradition.
Already in those days, Christmas trees began to be decorated with colored paper figures, various shiny little things, coins and even pastries. In Scandinavia and Germany, by the 17th century, these habits formed an enduring tradition that quietly became associated with the Christmas holiday.
When somewhere they tell how Christmas is celebrated in Russia briefly, they definitely note that in Russia Christmas trees got access to houses for Christmas thanks to Peter I - it was the first Russian emperor who ordered to decorate houses on holy days with pine or spruce branches. But for the first time, whole trees in the capital's halls began to be installed in the 1830s, and the Germans who lived here did it. This tradition quickly attracted the Russians, who gave it a traditional wide scope. As a result, Christmas trees began to be placed in large numbers on city streets and squares, and they became strongly associated with the celebration of Christmas.
History of Christmas in Russia
Christmas was celebrated before the revolution on December 25th. Divine services began in all Russian churches in honor of the Savior's birthday. Christmas in Russia has long been honored and loved, so churches in honor of the Nativity of Christ were built in many Russian cities. For young people, the most beloved Christmas tradition and at the same time entertainment was caroling.
After 1917, troubled times came for the church. The Bolsheviks banned the celebration of church holidays, expropriated, plundered or destroyed many churches and monasteries. The population had to work on public holidays, which had never happened before. The Christmas tree also got it, which was also ranked among the symbols of faith and for some time it was also banned. However, the love of the people for this harmless tradition was so strong that in 1933 the authorities had to return it, but now the tree has become just a New Year's tree.
Even during the period of the ban on Christmas, many residents of the country secretly continued to celebrate it, secretly brought home spruce branches, visited priests, baptized children and performed rituals. Some sang Christmas carols at home. But the celebration of Christmas in Russia at that time could have ended very sadly for a person if the authorities knew about it.
When the USSR collapsed in 1991, the celebration of Christmas was also officially allowed. But it must be admitted that during the years of Soviet power, people for the most part lost the habit of celebrating religious holidays, therefore, in our society, the New Year is still the main winter holiday.
Although attempts to revive old Christmas traditions are undoubtedly being made. Many go home with carols, federal TV channels broadcast a solemn Christmas service from the restored Cathedral of Christ the Savior, godchildren wear kutya to their godparents. So the memory of the holiday is alive, and if you look at the traditions of Russia, many of them are being revived with renewed vigor.
And how do you celebrate Christmas? Do you adhere to the traditions of old Russia, or do you consider such a celebration obsolete? Share your customs in the comments - we will be very interested to learn about them!
Christmas Eve - Christmas Eve - was celebrated modestly both in the palaces of Russian emperors and in the huts of peasants. But the next day, fun and revelry began - Christmas time. Many mistakenly classify all sorts of fortune-telling and mummers as traditions of celebrating Christmas. Indeed, there were those who guessed, dressed up as bears, pigs and various evil spirits, frightened children and girls. For greater persuasiveness, scary masks were made from various materials. But these traditions are pagan relics.
Glorification can be attributed to the true Christmas traditions. On the feast of the Nativity of Christ, when the gospel was heard for the liturgy, the patriarch himself, with the whole spiritual synclite, came to glorify Christ and congratulate the sovereign in his chambers; from there everyone went with the cross and holy water to the queen and other members of the royal family. As for the origin of the rite of glorification, it can be assumed that it belongs to the deepest Christian antiquity; its beginning can be seen in those congratulations that at one time were brought to Emperor Constantine the Great by his singers, while singing a kontakion to the birth of Christ: "The Virgin Gives Birth to the Most Substantial Today." The tradition of glorification was very widespread among the people. Youth, children went from house to house or stopped under the windows and praised the born Christ, and also wished good and prosperity to the owners in songs and jokes. The hosts gave refreshments to the participants of such concerts - congratulations, competing in generosity and hospitality. It was considered bad form to refuse treats to the praisers, and the artists even took large bags with them - sacks to collect sweet trophies.
In the 16th century, the nativity scene became an integral part of worship. So in the old days the puppet theater was called, showing the story of the birth of Jesus Christ. The law of the nativity scene forbade showing the dolls of the Virgin and the Divine Infant, they were always replaced with an icon. But the Magi, shepherds and other characters worshiping the newborn Jesus could be portrayed both with the help of puppets and with the help of actors.
The meeting of the celebration of Christmas is preceded by Christmas Eve - the last day before the twelfth holiday. Those who fasted on this day were supposed to eat sochivo - barley or wheat grains cooked with the addition of honey. From the morning of Christmas Eve, believers began to prepare for the holiday: they washed the floors, cleaned the house, after which they themselves went to the bathhouse. With the onset of the evening meal, the strict Philippine fast also ended.
All the relatives gathered at the table were waiting for the first star to appear in the sky - this tradition was inspired by the story of Christmas with the Star of Bethlehem, which announced the birth of the Messiah to the world.
It is very interesting how Christmas was celebrated in the old days. On Christmas Eve, the housewives began to prepare ritual dishes, of which there should be exactly 12 on the table - so that all the apostles would have enough. To commemorate the dead, kutya was prepared - wheat porridge seasoned with linseed oil and honey. A plate with kutya was placed under the icons, putting it under the first hay - this was supposed to resemble the first cradle of Jesus. They also made a vzvar (uzvar) - a compote of dried fruits and berries, which was dedicated to the birth of a baby. The Christmas table should be varied and hearty, so they certainly baked pies, pancakes and pies. With the end of a long fast, meat dishes returned to the table: sausages, hams, ham. Roasted pig or goose was welcome.
Straw was laid under the tablecloth on the table. At first, a candle and a plate with kutya were placed on it, then a straw was pulled out from under the tablecloth, on which they were guessing - if you get a long one, then the bread harvest will be good, but otherwise, wait for a crop failure. Already on Christmas Eve it was impossible to work (except for household cleaning).
Describing how Christmas was celebrated in Russia, one cannot fail to mention one of the brightest and most interesting traditions - caroling. Initially, this tradition was pagan, one of the types of sun worship. But over the following centuries, Christianity erased almost all pagan traditions from the people's memory or built them into the system of its own rituals. In the villages, dressed in sheepskin coats turned inside out and with painted faces, the youth began to go from house to house, near which they joyfully proclaimed that the Savior was born, played simple performances, sang Christmas songs, wished the owners well-being and health, and after that the owners gave the carolers some sweets , sausage, loaf or even money. It was believed that after sunset in the Christmas week, evil spirits crawl out into the light of day and begin to do all sorts of dirty tricks to people. And the mummers wandering between the houses were supposed to show this evil spirits that the path here was ordered.
On the eve of Christmas, the godchildren wore kutya to their godparents, sang Christmas songs to them, for which they were also awarded gifts. This was common, as they celebrated Christmas in the north of Russia, as well as in Belarus and Little Russia.
Shrovetide in Russia. From the history of Maslenitsa in Russia
Maslenitsa (until the 16th century - the pagan Komoyeditsa, according to the old pre-revolutionary spelling they wrote "Maslyanitsa") - one of the oldest holidays of the religion of the Druids (Magi).
History of Maslenitsa
First, Komoyeditsa is a great ancient Slavic pagan 2-week holiday of the solemn meeting of Spring and the beginning of the Old Slavic New Year on the Day of the vernal equinox. This day marked the transition to spring agricultural work. The celebration of Komoyeditsa began a week before the Spring Equinox and lasted a week after.
In 988, the Varangian conquerors (Rurik Prince Vladimir), in order to strengthen their then greatly shaken power over the heavily oppressed conquered tribes, fire, sword and great blood forced the Slavs subject to them to abandon their primordial gods, symbolizing the ancient Slavic ancestors, and accept faith in the God of a foreign people.
The Slavic population that survived after the mass bloody skirmishes and protests was baptized in the most cruel way (everyone, including small children, was driven by the Viking squads with spears into the rivers for baptism, and the rivers, as the chronicler reports, “reddened with blood”). Images of Slavic gods were burned, temples and sanctuaries (temples) were destroyed. In the baptism of the Slavs there was not even a hint of reverent Christian holiness - just another brutal act of the Vikings (Varangians), who were particularly cruel.
During baptism, many Slavs were killed, and some fled to the North, to lands not subject to the Vikings. As a result of the genocide carried out during the Christianization, the Slavic population of Russia decreased from approximately 12 million to 3 million people (this terrifying population decline is clearly evidenced by the data of the All-Russian population censuses of 980 and 999). Later, those who fled to the North were also baptized, but they never had slavery (“serfdom”).
The enslaved Slavs forever lost their roots and spiritual connection with their ancient ancestors. After the adoption of Christianity in Russia, the Magi fought for the independence of the Slavs and became participants in many uprisings against the enslaving Varangians (Vikings), supported the forces opposed to the Kyiv prince.
The last "real" magi are mentioned in the XIII-XIV centuries. in Novgorod and Pskov. By this time, paganism in Russia was practically eliminated. Together with the Magi, their ancient runic writing and their knowledge disappeared. Almost all runic records, including historical chronicles, were destroyed by Christians. The original written history of the Slavs until the 8th century became unknown. Archaeologists occasionally find only scattered fragments of inscriptions on the stones of destroyed pagan temples and on shards of pottery. Later, under the name "Magi" in Russia, only various kinds of folk healers, heretics and newly-minted warlocks were understood.
After the adoption of Christianity in Russia, the ancient pagan Slavic holiday Komoyeditsa - the great feast of the sacred Spring, coming on the Day of the vernal equinox (March 20 or 21) - fell on the time of the Orthodox Great Lent, when all kinds of fun festivities and games were forbidden by the Church, and even punished. After a long struggle of the clergy with the pagan Slavic holiday, it was included in the Orthodox holidays under the name "cheese (meat) week", preceding the 7 weeks of Lent.
Thus, the holiday moved closer to the beginning of the year and lost its connection with the astronomical event - the Day of the vernal equinox, the day of the arrival of the pagan sacred Spring.
This broke his sacred connection with the previously traditional among the Slavs religion of the Magi (close to the Druids), in which it is the days of the winter (the longest night of the year) and summer (the longest day of the year) solstice and spring (the day lengthens and becomes equal to the night) and autumnal (the day shortens and becomes equal to the night) equinoxes were the greatest and most sacred holidays.
Among the people, the holiday transformed in a church way was called Maslenitsa and continued to be celebrated on the same pagan scale, but on other dates tied to the day of Orthodox Easter (the beginning of Maslenitsa 8 weeks before Easter, then comes the 7-week Great Lent before Easter).
At the beginning of the 18th century, a lover of feasts and holidays, Peter I, who was well acquainted with the cheerful European Shrovetide customs, introduced in Russia the obligatory universal celebration of the folk Maslenitsa in the traditional European manner with his royal regulations. Maslenitsa has turned into a secular holiday, accompanied by endless fun games, slides, competitions with prizes. Actually, from the time of Peter the Great, our current folk Maslenitsa appeared with merry carnival processions of mummers organized by the authorities, entertainment, booths, endless jokes and festivities.
Christmas is one of the great holidays of Christianity and belongs to the Twelve.
The Christmas service charter was finally formed in the 4th century. So, for example, if the eve of a holiday falls on a Sunday, the first rule of Theophylact of Alexandria is used to celebrate this holiday. On the eve of the holiday, instead of the usual hours, the so-called Royal Hours are read, various Old Testament prophecies and events related to the Nativity of Christ are recalled.
In the afternoon, the liturgy of Basil the Great takes place, in the case when the eve does not take place on Saturday or Sunday, when the liturgy of St. John Chrysostom is served, at the usual time. The All-Night Vigil begins with the Great Vespers, at which spiritual joy over the Nativity of Christ sounds with the prophetic song “For God is with us.”
In the 5th century, Anatoly, Patriarch of Constantinople, and in the 7th century, Soffoniy and Andrew of Jerusalem, in the 8th century, John of Damascus, Kosmas, Bishop of Mayum, as well as Herman, Patriarch of Constantinople, wrote church hymns for the feast of the Nativity of Christ, which are used by the current church. Also at the service, the kontakion "Today the Virgin..." written by Reverend Roman the Melodist is performed.
In order to adequately prepare for the feast of the Nativity of Christ, the Church has set a time for preparation - the Nativity Fast, which lasts from November 28 to January 6 and involves not only abstinence from food. In fasting, Christians try to spend their time piously, moving away from idleness and paying special attention to prayer and work.
In Russia, the celebration of the birth of Christ began in the 10th century. Christmas Eve - Christmas Eve. On this day, the Liturgy is combined with Vespers, which marks the beginning of the next day, because the church day begins in the evening. Consequently, after the solemn Liturgy (January 6) and Vespers connected with it, the time of the first day of Christmas comes, but fasting has not yet been canceled. At the meal, a special pre-Christmas meal is offered - “sochivo”. This is what gave the name to Christmas Eve - Christmas Eve. "Sochiv" was called in Russia grains of cereals boiled with honey: wheat, barley or rice. In addition, a fruit broth (compote) was prepared.
For the Christmas festive table, Russian housewives prepared traditional dishes: roast pig with horseradish, baked chicken, jellies and sausages, honey gingerbread. They broke the fast from Lent on January 7, after the solemn Christmas service in the church. Then came the holy evenings - Christmas time, which lasted from January 7 to 19.
At Christmas time, people went from house to house with hymns. In the villages, Christmas time was celebrated by the whole world, moving from hut to hut, but in the cities, Christmas festivities were famous for their scope. Ordinary people had fun in the squares, where booths, carousels, markets, and tea houses were set up. The merchants rode in troikas.
A good tradition at Christmas and Easter was also visiting the sick, generous alms to the prisoners from their table. Christians shared their Christmas joy with the poor and needy, remembering that Christ came to earth not in royal palaces, but in simple mangers. And the poor shepherds greeted Him first.
When is Christmas in Orthodoxy?
Russian, Jerusalem, Serbian, Georgian Orthodox Churches and Athos, Polish, as well as Eastern Catholic Churches celebrate December 25 according to the Julian calendar (the so-called "old style"), which corresponds to January 7 of the modern Gregorian calendar.
Holy Trinity Day is one of the most important holidays for every Orthodox believer. It is filled with a deep sacred meaning: the events of the gospel history, remembered on this day, played an important role in the development of the Christian religion.
The Trinity is a moving holiday: every year it is celebrated on the fiftieth day after the Bright Resurrection of Christ, which is why this event is also called Pentecost. At this time, the prophecy of Christ, which he gave to his disciples before the Ascension to heaven, was fulfilled.
The history and meaning of the feast of the Holy Trinity
According to the New Testament, before the ascension to Heaven, Christ repeatedly appeared to the apostles, instructing them in order to prepare them for the descent of the Holy Spirit upon them. This happened ten days after the Ascension. The apostles, who were in the room where they had their last meal with the Savior - the Last Supper - suddenly heard an inexplicable noise from heaven, like the noise of the wind. The sound filled the whole room, and after that fire was revealed to them: it split into separate flames, and each of the apostles perceived it. From that moment on, the disciples of the Savior had the opportunity to speak all the languages of the world in order to bring the light of Christian teaching to all peoples. For this reason, the day of the Holy Trinity is also revered as the day of the founding of the church.
In honor of the descent of the Holy Spirit, the holiday got its name: this event marked the trinity of God. The three hypostases of the Holy Trinity - God the Father, God the Son and the Holy Spirit - exist in unity, creating the world and sanctifying it with Divine grace.
The holiday was established at the end of the fourth century after the adoption of the dogma of the Divine Trinity. In Russia, the celebration was approved three centuries after the Epiphany. Over time, Holy Trinity Day has become one of the most beloved and revered holidays among the people: in addition to church institutions, many folk traditions and customs have appeared that have become an integral part of this day.
Trinity Celebration
On the day of the Holy Trinity, a solemn festive service is held in the churches, distinguished by extraordinary pomp and beauty. According to the canon, priests conduct services in green robes: this shade symbolizes the life-giving, creative power of the Holy Trinity. For the same reason, birch branches are considered one of the main symbols of the holiday - they traditionally decorate temples and houses - and freshly cut grass, which is used to line the floor in churches. There was a belief that a bunch of branches used as church decoration could become an excellent amulet and protect the house from adversity, so they were often taken with them and kept throughout the year.
It was believed that the herbs on the day of the Holy Trinity are endowed with special power, so they were engaged in collecting medicinal plants at this time. There was even a custom to drop tears on a bunch of grass, putting a candle in honor of the holiday - so that summer would not bring drought, and the soil would be fertile and delight with its gifts.
On the day of the Holy Trinity, it is customary to pray for the forgiveness of sins, as well as for the salvation of the souls of all the dead - including those who died an unnatural death. Prayers are read during the church service, and the faithful accompany them with prostrations, which are again allowed after the end of the series of Easter services. If it is not possible to visit the temple, you can pray at home in front of the icon: on the day of the Holy Trinity, any sincere words will certainly be heard.
Having correctly met this important holiday for all Christians, you can change your life for the better. May your every day be filled with joy. We wish you well-being and strong faith, and do not forget to press the buttons and
When is Christmas celebrated from 6 to 7?
When is Christmas celebrated? Christmas is one of the main Christian holidays, established in honor of the birth in the flesh (incarnation) of Jesus Christ. It is celebrated on the night of December 24-25 - among Catholics. On the night of January 6-7 - at the Orthodox.
Christmas in Russia, as celebrated. How was Christmas celebrated in Russia?
Christmas is one of the main annual Christian holidays. Traditions and customs to celebrate this great day are passed down from generation to generation and are an integral part of the original culture of each country. Christmas in Russia began to be celebrated in the 10th century. The day and night before Christmas, Christmas Eve, were celebrated modestly and calmly, and the following days were cheerful and provocative in Russian.
On Christmas Eve it was necessary to properly prepare for the holiday. In the early morning, villagers went to fetch water, which on that day became healing: they washed themselves with it and kneaded dough for Christmas bread on it. In the morning the hostess began to kindle the stove. Before Christmas, this was done in a special way. According to the customs of the ancestors, fire was produced by striking a spark, and flint and flint for 12 days before that lay under the images. The hostess was baptized three times and, turning to the rising sun, struck a fire, set fire to a rod from it, and only after that melted the stove, in which there were 12 specially selected logs.
On this fire, 12 Lenten dishes were prepared, among which the obligatory ones were uzvar - a drink made from dried fruits and honey, and kutya - porridge made from wheat and barley. Kutia with honey was called "juice", hence the "Christmas Eve" came from. By the way, the ashes from the Christmas fire were used in various magical rites. At first, adults treated domestic animals with kutya and uzvar, while children made sounds reminiscent of their voices so that nothing bad would happen to them in the new year.
At home, it was necessary to build a symbol of the harvest - a kind of altar from a sheaf of rye and peasant tools. Bringing a sheaf into the house, the owner took off his hat and greeted the hostess, as if seeing her for the first time: “God bless you!” And the hostess had to answer: “God help! What are you carrying?" Here the man said: "Gold, so that we live richly all year," he stopped in the middle of the hut, was baptized and wished the family happiness, health and longevity. After that, the sheaf was placed under the icons, tied with an iron chain, and a plowshare and a collar were placed next to it. The hostess took out a clean white tablecloth and covered the whole structure with it.
Our distant relatives did not forget about the rite of strengthening health. The head of the family scattered straw on the floor, threw hay on the table, and made a small sheaf of hay, which he placed under the table. At the top of the stack was placed a shard in which incense was smoked. Iron tools were laid out around him. All those present had to touch them in turn with their bare feet, so that health would be as strong as iron.
And in order to scare away evil spirits, the couple went around the house and yard with freshly baked bread, honey and poppy seeds. Poppy seeds were scattered in the barn, and garlic was laid out in all corners.
In the evening, a large fire was lit in the yard, so that the dead relatives in the next world would also be warm. The household stood near the fire in deep silence, remembering the departed and praying for them.
Then a child up to seven years old, whose soul was considered innocent and sinless, put three baked rolls, a pinch of salt on the hay lying on the table, and put a large wax candle. Only after all these rituals could it be served on the table. Everyone was smartly dressed, and now that everything in the house is tidied up and ready for the holiday, it remains only to wait for the first star to appear in the frosty night sky. Soon, when the sonorous voices of children announced the appearance of a star, it was possible to start dinner.
The first to sit at the table was the father, followed by the mother, and the children in order of seniority. The owner, taking a spoonful of kutya, read a prayer for the deceased relatives. It was believed that their souls come to earth on this day and see everything. Therefore, especially for them, they also set plates with treats. During dinner, no one except the hostess was allowed to get up, and it was necessary to talk quietly and calmly.
At the end of their song, the carolers, who go to praise Christ, congratulate the hosts on the onset of the holiday, and wish them all the best. The hospitable hosts immediately bring some treats to the singers, in which one person specially walks with a bag. So carolers, accompanied by noisy children, traveled throughout the village.
With the first strike of the morning bell, everyone hurried to the church for a festive service. After matins, the youth arranged dashing skiing and sleigh rides from the mountains, accompanied by cheerful laughter and songs.
Now the festive table abounded with all sorts of goodies: traditionally cooked jelly, suckling pig, fried chicken, pork head with horseradish, sausage and honey gingerbread.
From the second day of the holiday, in the evenings, new entertainments began - processions of mummers. Many people, dressed in clothes turned inside out, wearing masks, sang songs and danced not only in the villages, but also in the city squares.
Even at Christmas they liked to arrange various parties, conversations, went to visit each other, and, of course, they could not do without fortune-telling.
Merry Christmas to you!
The Nativity of Christ is not only signs and customs that have been preserved since Old Slavonic times, but also symbols, because few people know why it is customary to decorate a Christmas tree and give gifts.
The main attribute of the holiday is, of course, the Christmas tree, however, such a tradition was not born immediately. The Germans were the first to decorate the Christmas tree. According to legend, the burgher reformer Martin Luther once walked along the street on Christmas Eve and admired the starry sky. There were so many stars in the sky that it seemed to Luther as if little lights were stuck in the tops of the trees.
He returned home and decorated a small Christmas tree with candles and apples, and placed the Star of Bethlehem on top. But, in Russia, they began to decorate the Christmas tree in 1699 by decree of Peter I. The tsar also issued a decree on the transition to a new countdown, which began from the date of the birth of Christ.
Christmas in Russia
The feast of the Nativity of Christ entered Russia along with Christianity in the 10th century. and merged here with the winter ancient Slavic holiday Christmas time.
Slavic Christmas time was a multi-day holiday. They began at the end of December and continued throughout the first week of January. Only with the penetration of Christianity into the life of the Slavs, firm dates were fixed for Christmas time - from December 25, the day of the mythical birth of Christ, and until baptism, that is, until January 6.
In the life of the ancient Slavs, the time of this holiday was of great economic importance. Winter work was coming to an end, a period of active preparation for spring was beginning. Economic life left a noticeable imprint on the Christmas time and to a large extent determined the festive Christmas rituals and customs. Many of them, having undergone significant changes, passed into the Christmas rites.
The Slavs attached great importance to the magical cleansing of all evil spirits, filth, evil spirits, with which, in fact, Christmas time began. To do this, the dwelling was carefully cleaned and washed, people washed themselves, cattle were sprinkled with water. Fire and smoke drove away evil spirits.
A large place in the celebration of Christmas time was occupied by community meetings - gatherings. At these meetings, the most important economic issues were discussed, and the schedule for further work was outlined. Community meetings ended with general festive feasts, which often lasted several days. At the same time, part of the food was “given away” to the gods, spirits to the souls of dead ancestors, in order to attract them to their side in this way. At the same time, various amusements, games, fortune-telling, walking of mummers, Christmas markets (trades, bazaars) were arranged. The cult of plant spirits and industrial agricultural magic also occupied a large place in the Christmas rites of the Slavs. The performance of various rituals, according to believers, was supposed to ensure a good harvest, a large offspring of livestock.
The remnants of all these rituals, customs and beliefs, although in a significantly changed form, have been preserved in many places until recently.
Until recently, in some areas of our country, the Christmas holiday began like this: on Christmas Eve, the dwelling was cleaned with ears of corn, the table and floor were covered with fresh hay, and an unthreshed sheaf was placed in the front corner, under the icons. With the appearance of the first star in the sky, the family sat down at the festive table. One of the main ceremonial dishes at the feast was kutya, or sochivo, i.e. liquid porridge made from boiled bread grains, sweetened with honey. Before the festive meal itself, the owner took a pot of kutya and walked around the hut three times with it, then threw a few spoons of kutya through a window or door into the street, symbolically treating the spirits. Frost was invited to the hut to eat kutya, and he was asked not to attack in the spring “on zhito, wheat and all pashits”, that is, not to destroy crops in spring.
Specially prepared sausages and pork also occupied a large place in the Christmas festive treat. They tried to clutter up the festive table with decorations and all sorts of dishes, figurines of domestic animals baked from dough, ornaments from ears of corn, so that, sitting at this table, householders could not see each other. It was believed that the abundance of the festive table can magically contribute to abundance, prosperity of the family throughout the year. At the end of the festive meal, the spoons were left in the kutia so that the spirits could feast.
Caroling was also a common Christmas ritual. When caroling, special songs were sung - carols. Initially, these were magical, witchcraft spells, supposedly ensuring the economic well-being of the community, family. Later, special songs appeared, glorifying the owners of the house and wishing them all the best. In some areas, carolers, coming to the hut, poured grain on the floor of the hut, pursuing the goal of magically calling for a high harvest.
After the introduction of Christianity, the church linked caroling with the gospel myth of the appearance of the star of Bethlehem, announcing the birth of Christ. So the pagan caroling turned into the walking of Christs with a star from house to house. The worshipers sang special Christmas church songs. Children were widely involved in the glorification of Christ. Believers rewarded them with gifts and sweets.
The clergy showed great activity in "Christ-worship". It became a major source of income for him. As a result of going around the houses with short prayers, the clergy collected whole carts of food and large sums of money on the Christmas holidays.
In the celebration of the Orthodox Nativity of Christ, remnants of Christmastime entertainments have also been preserved. The following document testifies to the nature of Christmas, Christmas festivities. In the letter of Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich to the Shuya governor in 1649, it was written: “Yes, on Christmas and until the Epiphany Day (that is, during all Christmas time, before baptism. - Ed.) they gather for demonic games, but drunken priests and monks and all kinds of Orthodox Christians walk around Moscow, and scold, and fight, and fight, scream and yell, and revel in memory without memory.
Exorbitant saturation with food and wine was a relic of the belief that in this way one could magically ensure a well-fed and cheerful life throughout the year.
It was widely spread at Christmas time (and then passed into the Christmas ceremony) walking mummers. The ancient Slavs, dressed in the skins of various animals, believed that in this way they could magically influence the increase in the number of these animals. On the other hand, it was believed that the rampant evil spirits were especially great on the holiday. Christians also believed in this, believing that God, rejoicing at the birth of his son, opened the doors of heaven and hell and released angels and all evil spirits to "walk the earth." In order to avoid the harmful influence of evil spirits, believers, following the example of distant ancestors, dressed up, put on terrible animal masks in order to scare away evil spirits with this outfit or at least become unrecognizable and thus avoid the machinations of evil spirits.
Fortune-telling was an integral part of the Christmas entertainment. It arose as a result of the desire of people to somehow foresee the future and even magically influence it. People wanted to know in advance what the harvest would be, the offspring of livestock, etc. This, for example, is evidenced by such divination techniques as pulling straws from a sheaf or a blade of hay brought to the hut at Christmas time with their teeth. An elongated full ear with grain foreshadowed a good harvest, a long blade of grass - a good hay.
At a later time, the custom of fortune-telling was preserved mainly among young people, especially among girls, and was reduced to the desire to know one's fate, to know or see the betrothed.
And finally, let's dwell on one more Christmas, Christmas custom - decorating the Christmas tree. This custom is not Slavic, but transferred to Russia from the West. Among the ancient Germanic tribes, the cult of the spirits of vegetation was widespread. These spirits allegedly could exert a powerful influence on the harvest of bread, fruits, fruits, and on the offspring of livestock. According to the beliefs of the Germans, these spirits lived in trees, and above all in evergreen firs. In order to appease the spirits, they made sacrifices - they hung all their offerings on fir trees. Later, the spruce was no longer decorated in the forest or in the clearing, but was cut down and brought to the village. Here, around the decorated spruce, a holiday was held. The Christian church included this ancient custom in the Christmas rites. With the development of economic ties, the custom of decorating a Christmas tree for Christmas was brought to Russia (XVIII century). In our country, decorating the Christmas tree is timed to celebrate the New Year. The Christmas tree is arranged as fun for children.
Such was the everyday content of the Slavic Christmas time and the Christian holiday of the Nativity of Christ that merged with them. The Orthodox Church attached exceptional importance to this holiday. Christmas, according to the teachings of the church, is the second Easter.
The church assigned the central place in the ideological content of the holiday to the teaching of the birth of Jesus Christ in the form of a man to atone for the sins of people, to show mankind the ways of salvation. Defining the content of the Christmas feast, one of the church leaders wrote: “Glorifying the true union of God with man in the born God-man, the feast of the Nativity of Christ morally teaches us a holy life worthy of the born Lord” ( Debolsky. Days of worship ... of the Orthodox Church, vol. I, 1901, p. 38).
In its divine services, the church dedicates the whole 12 days to the Christmas holiday. Starting from December 20, 5 days are considered the pre-feast of Christmas. The most solemn service is performed on the day of the holiday itself. This is a real performance, which is designed to influence the religious feelings of believers, raise their religious mood and make them more receptive to the teachings of their spiritual fathers.
All the ideological content of the holiday, all its liturgical side pursue one main goal: to prove that all earthly troubles, all social injustice is the result of the sinfulness of the human race. And the way out of a difficult earthly life is to achieve heavenly bliss in the other world, the afterlife, which can be achieved only by fulfilling the teachings of Christ.
Calling on people to come to terms with cruel reality, distracting them from the struggle for better living conditions, for true human happiness on earth, the Church faithfully served the feudal lords, feudal lords, landowners and capitalists. And it is no coincidence that the tsarist government of Russia considered Christmas a public holiday and the entire church and police apparatus zealously monitored that the Christmas ritual was strictly observed by everyone. This was done in order to give the working people a deceptive consolation in "their newly born savior and the redeemer of their sins" on Christmas days.
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